Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Twenty-Fourth Episode

Host and guests all seated, Huqiu poured the wine.

Lian Cheng was still somewhat tense, worried they might smash cups and plates in a clash. In his original self at home, he had been particularly meticulous about such things—every cup, plate, and bowl came from either this famous kiln or that renowned master, each with its own story. If they broke, Lian Cheng would feel the loss.

So, as the one who had arranged this meal, he was the first to stand, raising his wine cup. "All worldly affairs are but bubbles and illusions. Facing wine, let us sing—how brief is life! Let me drink this cup first. I hope you, sir, and my sixth brother will not take offense. Let the past grievances be set aside, and may we stand together as two sages like Zilu and Yanhui."

This was Lian Cheng's true wish. If these two could become like Zilu and Yanhui, it would be an immeasurable blessing for the nation and its people.

Guan Lian gave his rebellious disciple some face. He raised the golden cup in his hand, drained it in one gulp, then, stroking the cup, said, "Gold is too extravagant, white stone too plain."

Lian Cheng, quick to grasp the hint, immediately said, "Wine vessels made from tree roots or bamboo are truly the most elegant and refined."

Guan Lian found it hard to keep a stern face after that.

Lian Xiusheng, after refilling Guan Lian's empty cup and respectfully offering it to him, drank his own wine and said, "I am deeply honored that you, Old Master, would condescend to visit this humble abode and partake in this meager meal and poor wine. I also hope you will condescend to teach the Lian family's younger generation the classics and poetry. As your junior, I am both privileged and humbled, and I am filled with gratitude."

Guan Lian waved his hand. "No need for such courtesy. Though we differ in age, we are peers on the path of examinations. Now that I have lost my official status and am but a commoner, do not call me 'Old Master.' Even addressing me as 'young friend' would be an honor beyond my station."

"Old Master, your talent is outstanding, and your blessings come from heaven itself."

Guan Lian gave Lian Xiusheng a meaningful glance, paused, and said, "In private, you are dignified and refined, but in court, your edge is too sharp. Have you heard the saying, 'A tall tree catches the wind; a man of high renown invites ruin'?"

Lian Cheng understood immediately. He clenched his fists beneath the table. Nice one, teacher! Put him in his place!

Lian Xiusheng nodded and said, "But I have also heard that 'the outstanding tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind.' I have stepped forward on my own, to be the first to worry and the last to enjoy."

Lian Cheng stamped his foot in frustration. What does this mean? Voluntarily stepping out to lure the enemy and then sweeping all dissenters into a single net?

How vicious his heart is, sixth brother!

But Guan Lian, diverging from Lian Cheng's original intention, took a thoughtful sip of wine. "To place oneself in danger in order to uphold the righteousness of scholars—your strategy is unfathomable even to gods and ghosts. I admire you!"

"You flatter me..."

Lian Cheng: "..." What is this? Why aren't they fighting? Old geezer, give him a slap already! Slap him so hard he recites the Eight Honors and Eight Shames in his sleep every night!

Contrary to his wishes, the old and the young began a hearty discussion on scholarly righteousness. Someone mentioned that in the south, there was a poetry society that gathered hundreds of scholars, yet they only sought fame and fortune, having lost all integrity. Lian Xiusheng said, "Integrity is hard to nurture and easy to break; the pursuit of fame and profit has no end." Guan Lian stroked his beard and laughed heartily, saying, "Lord Lian, you truly are a wise man from a noble house!" Lian Xiusheng quickly demurred.

Unable to bear the sight, Lian Cheng had a few more drinks, leaving Huqiu and Qiong Hua to attend the warm room while he took Tong Xue out for some fresh air.

The Penglai Pavilion had three courtyards. The largest was at the outermost, with a small pond to the west, though only two-thirds of it lay within the compound—the remaining third was on Yiqiu territory.

Originally, a covered walkway over the water connected the two courtyards, but the original owner, detesting Lian Xiusheng, had filled in the pond. Now, the connecting door between the two courtyards was about three or four paces away. To enter the inner rooms, bustling with people, one had to go further inward. In the center of the main courtyard, an old pear tree stood tall with bare branches, adding elegance to the ornate doors and carved windows.

Two roosters were currently fighting fiercely in the beautiful snowy scene, feathers flying everywhere.

Lian Cheng, not waiting for Tong Xue to fetch his cloak, ran over to break up the fight.

"Stop fighting!"

"Whose crap is this? Admit it yourself, and Daddy won't be angry."

"If you want to fight, go outside!"

Tong Xue ran out with the cloak, only to find the young master had already disappeared from under the eaves. He was now sitting beneath the pear tree, with one rooster standing proudly on either side of him, feathers bristling.

"Why are you mingling with these beasts, young master? Get up quickly," Tong Xue said, pulling Lian Cheng to his feet and bending down to brush the snow off his robe.

Just as Tong Xue reached out her hand, one of the roosters stretched its neck and pecked at her eye. Quick as a flash, Lian Cheng grabbed her shoulders and pushed her aside, then said sternly, "Do you really want a beating?"

Tong Xue was still shaken. "How frightening! Tomorrow morning, let's bleed them, scald them with boiling water, pluck their feathers, and throw them in the pot."

The two roosters, upon hearing this, each walked away, leaving two lines of bamboo-leaf prints in the snow.

Lian Cheng looked at their broad wings, big rumps, and large combs, feeling reluctant. "Didn't you buy plenty of food from Second Brother's courtyard earlier? We don't need that one bite. Let them be."

"Let them be?" Tong Xue was incredulous, uneasy in her heart. "Surely you're not thinking of following the Master and starting cockfighting?"

"I'm not that bored. It's just that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. I've already played with them—how could I eat their meat now?"

Tong Xue still refused. "If you want to keep pets, after the New Year I'll send someone to find some pretty, well-behaved dogs or cats. These two little beasts don't seem tame enough. What if they hurt you again..."

Lian Cheng tugged at her sleeve. "Sister, I beg you! Good sister, I just don't want to eat chicken. Let me keep them. I'll raise them myself, I won't trouble you. I'll teach them to behave and not hurt anyone. Sister, good sister..."

Tong Xue didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Young master, whenever you have a request, you always act spoiled and play the fool. That's not good. If you insist on keeping them, I'm just a servant—of course I'll obey."

"We live in the same courtyard. There's no such thing as master and servant. I don't like hearing that."

Tong Xue shed tears. She fastened Lian Cheng's cloak for him and sobbed, "This is the way of the times. If a person doesn't have the power to move mountains and overturn seas, it's better to accept fate."

Lian Cheng turned and ran off, saying offhandedly, "How would the world know that we young men are not bound by fate?"

-

Master and servant strolled over to Zhiyu Xuan—Second Brother Lian Ying's courtyard.

During the day, no servants or maids were in sight. Lian Cheng and Tong Xue slipped inside, encountering no one until they crouched like cats under a window of one room.

Inside, a plump woman in glittering gold paced back and forth, her headdress jingling. Lian Cheng couldn't see her head, but he knew this was Second Madam.

Second Madam was scolding someone. Listening closely, they soon found out who.

"Useless son! Your mother is just a peasant woman. I raised good livestock and caught your father's eye. Though the law forbids intermarriage between officials' families, just look around the city: how many noble wives and ladies have a background like mine? And they are legitimate wives. I am but a concubine. In the early years, your father cared about me. But over the years, men's hearts change. Now he dabbles in Zen Buddhism. To him, I'm no different from the chickens, ducks, and quails on the estate. Eating from a golden bowl and holding golden chopsticks is enough for me in this life. But my son, what will become of you?"

Lian Cheng's eyes darted around. He realized Second Brother was also in the room, but from his angle, he couldn't see him.

Lian Cheng had never truly been a child to a parent, but he put himself in their shoes and thought: if Zhang were saying such things in front of him, it would be hard to bear.

"This family! This family! In the future, you'll have nothing to do with it. Everything goes to Third Brother. Even when the old master was alive, he only managed to get a hereditary privilege for Eldest Brother. Because you were born after Eldest Brother, and from my womb, you got nothing."

"Heaven have mercy—you are a hardworking and earnest child. You are immensely learned, yet you still have no official rank. That's one thing. I only wished for you to be healthy and have children and grandchildren." Wu Shi covered her face and wept bitterly for a while, then suddenly slammed the wall with a back scratcher. "Who would have thought your wife would run away too? Useless!"

Lian Cheng sighed outside.

After a moment, Wu Shi's back scratcher seemed to hit something else—a dull thud.

"And now you dare to give away the household items to outsiders, you wastrel! You're trying to enrage your mother to death, and hand over all my gold and silver to the Lian family, aren't you? That would make you happy!"

Lian Ying remained silent throughout, finally saying, "Your son is also a member of the Lian family. The estates in your hands, Second Madam, were given by Father. If you don't acknowledge your identity, take off your jewelry and clothes. After all, you are a concubine. No need to go to the yamen—just pack your bags and leave."

Lian Cheng thought to himself: Wu Shi will probably be so angry at Lian Ying that she'll die on the spot.

Sure enough, Wu Shi lost all reason. She grabbed the oil lamp and smashed it on the ground.

The flames licked up Lian Ying's cotton robe, igniting it.

Wu Shi only screamed in fright. Lian Ying tried to put it out with the book in his hand, but only ended up with sparks flying. He yelped and threw it away.

Oh no! Lian Cheng let go and was about to rush in to help.

Tong Xue quickly grabbed him and shook her head.

Lian Cheng still ran in, ignoring their shocked expressions, picked up the teapot and poured water directly onto the flames, then stomped out the already more than half-burned book on the ground. With a rare sharp look in his eyes, he turned to Wu Shi, who was scared out of her wits, "Second Madam, what are you doing? If you can't bear to part with the things Second Brother gave away, you can send him to get them back. Why shut yourselves in and beat him? Or is it because you can't let go of the face he earned for you?"

Wu Shi had only ever seen the unreasonable Third Brother, never had she been reprimanded so righteously. Being naturally rude and fully aware of her own wrongdoing, she now cowered against the wall, mumbling, at a loss for words.

"Second Madam, you needn't complain that Minzi is disrespectful. As for today's matter, I'll report it to Father and Mother tomorrow and see what they decide regarding you."

After saying this, Lian Cheng grabbed Lian Ying's sleeve, "Second Brother, come stay in my courtyard tonight. Let's go."

Only after being dragged out of Zhiyu Xuan did Lian Ying come to his senses. He stopped, shook off his sleeve, and bowed to Lian Cheng, "Thank you for your help just now, Minzi. Otherwise, both Second Madam and I would have been in danger."

Lian Cheng looked at him with a complex expression, "Does Second Madam often beat you like this? You could tell Mother."

Lian Ying shook his head, "Second Madam is just a concubine. If Mother knew, she would definitely side with me, not her. A beating is one thing, but if she were driven out, how could that be? Besides, it's my fault for being useless—years without passing the exams, and my wife and daughter couldn't stay either. If she didn't beat me to vent, she'd have died of anger long ago."

"So, Third Brother, I beg you not to tell Father and Mother about today. I was wrong to misjudge you before, and I offer my sincere apologies."

With that, Lian Ying clasped his hands, raised them above his head, and bowed deeply.

Lian Cheng quickly helped him up, "This can't go on like this."

This was domestic violence!

"It's fine. When the next imperial exam comes, if I pass the provincial exam, everything will be resolved." Lian Ying said confidently.

Lian Cheng: "..." Actually, he didn't pass the next time either.

After talking about himself, Lian Ying turned to Lian Cheng, "You could prepare for the exam with me. You just took the child exam (tongshi), right? Getting a scholar title would make Mother very happy. What do you think?"

"Not interested," Lian Cheng said, "I have no ambition for officialdom. Have you ever thought about why you want to take the exams?"

"Naturally, to benefit the people and bring peace to the world."

Hmph.

Some people spend their whole lives taking exams, but when they look back, they've done nothing beneficial for the people—just exams. Whether they're seeking fame or something else, everyone knows in their hearts.

But Lian Cheng knew it was pointless to explain this to Lian Ying, who was a stick-in-the-mud traditionalist. He just said he wanted to go back and asked Second Brother what he planned to do.

"Since I've already left, I'll go to your place." Lian Ying even pulled Lian Cheng forward, eager to hurry, "How are Old Master and Sixth Brother enjoying their wine and food?"

Not long after Lian Cheng had left, the two hadn't finished their meal. When Lian Cheng brought Lian Ying to the warm room, he saw that Guan Lian had moved from his original seat to the one closest to Lian Xiusheng, leaning in for a close conversation.

Lian Cheng hadn't meant for the two to become such close friends.

That should be enough. While one can be influenced by what's near—good makes you good, bad makes you bad—if it's the latter, he'd have to fight two of them alone.

"Master, after a few cups of wine, you've forgotten your student and only have eyes for Sixth Brother." Lian Cheng pulled up a stool and squeezed between them.

Then he introduced Lian Ying to Guan Lian. Lian Ying bowed and took a seat by the table, "I've long heard of your esteemed name, Old Master. You are the one we admire most."

"Spare the flattery, don't waste this good time. Pour yourself some wine and let's drink to our hearts' content." Guan Lian said boldly.

The four of them sat around an octagonal table, drinking hot wine and eating rich, heavily spiced beef and mutton in the warm room with a stove. Guan Lian was so hot he took off his robe, Lian Ying rolled up his wide sleeves, and everyone in the room could see the bruises on his arms, but no one asked, just eating, drinking, and talking.

Lian Cheng was also hot, but he only tugged at his collar. When he finally felt a little cooler, Lian Xiusheng reached over and pulled his collar back together. Annoying. Could he catch a cold in this room?

Compared to the three of them with disheveled clothes, Lian Xiusheng was impeccably dressed. He drank too, but seemed to have a good tolerance, showing no signs of intoxication.

After a lively meal, Lian Xiusheng arranged for Huqiu to help Lian Ying to the side room to rest. Guan Lian refused any assistance, and with his robe open, he recited poems in the snow.

The maids quickly cleared the table and asked the absent-minded young master if he wanted to wash up and rest.

"Don't bother with me. I'm going to Sixth Brother's courtyard to sleep tonight."

"Oh, but Sixth Brother has already left."

"Why didn't he tell me?" How outrageous. Lian Cheng got up and ran out.

Qiong Hua, holding a tray and a cup, sighed, "The young master treats the one in the next courtyard very well now."

Tong Xue adjusted the lamp behind her, "If Sixth Brother is kind-hearted, it's good for the young master to befriend him."

Meanwhile, most people in Yiqiu had already gone to rest, as their young master had said earlier that he would be back late and they didn't need to wait, just to heat the water in the trough.

So when Lian Cheng ran into their courtyard, no one announced him. The young master, not fully recovered from his illness, was still nimble. After running around, he found the owner of the courtyard himself. He carefully pushed open the door, closed it quietly, stood behind the screen, crouched down and peered at the partial silhouette in the bath trough, and said, "Guess who?"

The person in the hot mist kept his eyes closed, "Third Brother, why are you here?"

Boring.

Lian Cheng walked to the front of the screen. Seeing Lian Xiusheng soaking in the hot water, he crouched beside the trough, "You should have said something when you left. Leaving without a word is so rude." With that, he rolled up his sleeve, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it at Lian Xiusheng's face.

Lian Xiusheng turned his head to dodge, the water flowing down his cheek and chest. When he turned back, his Third Brother was already taking off his hat and clothes.

"Third Brother, what are you doing?" Lian Xiusheng asked.

"Your elder brother wants to bathe with you."

Having said that, Lian Cheng had already stripped off his clothes. Ancient garments were easy to remove.

This was different from the previous times Lian Xiusheng had seen his Third Brother. Before, he was either asleep or in a bad mood, and out of politeness, he hadn't seen him fully (out of respect).

But this time, his Third Brother was vividly alive, with nothing on. A snow-white body slipped into the water like a lotus floating on waves.

Lian Cheng slid over to Lian Xiusheng's side and leaned against the wall with him, "Ah, this feels great."

Lian Xiusheng glanced sideways at his Third Brother's body—bones like bright clouds, skin like snow, water beading on his chest, dark hair wrapping around his arms.

Just looking at it, he could already taste its beauty. Such were the historical beauties.